Synopsis

For centuries, Heaven has required its young angels to live and study among humans in order to become full-fledged angels. This is no different for top-of-her-class Gabriel White Tenma, who believes it is her mission to be a great angel who will bring happiness to mankind. However, Gabriel grows addicted to video games on Earth and eventually becomes a hikikomori. Proclaiming herself a "Faillen Angel," she is apathetic to everything else—much to the annoyance of Vignette April Tsukinose, a demon whom Gabriel befriended in her angelic early days on Earth.

Vignette's attempts to revert Gabriel back to her previous self are in vain, as Gabriel shoots down any attempt to change her precious lifestyle. As they spend their time on Earth, they meet two eccentric personalities: the angel Raphiel Ainsworth Shiraha, Gabriel's classmate with a penchant for sadism, and the demon Satanichia McDowell Kurumizawa, a clumsy self-proclaimed future ruler of the Underworld.

Gabriel DropOut follows these four friends' comedic lives as they utterly fail to understand what it truly means to be a demon or an angel.

If I learned something from watching Gabriel DropOut, is that going to hell is definitely the superior option. Get ready for this hilarious comedy that reverses the roles of angels and demons!

The story is simple but interesting due to the comedic setting it creates: our protagonist, Gabriel, was a kind, top tier angel who always helped others. However, after coming to Earth she developed an addiction to online videogames and became incredibly lazy. From there we meet other angels and demon with personalities that don't fit the standards we give to them, creating lots of great comedic situations playing around that. Going back to Gabriel,
I love how much of an asshole she can be to the others, it's a fun twist to the happy and kind main protagonist we usually have in these type of stories.

Playing that role instead, we have Vignette, an “angelic demon” if that makes sense. Being completely different to Gabriel, she is a very responsible and kind-hearted girl who is always there to help and bring happiness to everyone around her. How can a demon be this pure? No idea, but I can already tell you that she has some of the most heart-melting smiles that anime can provide. Next we have Satania, the cutest, most “evil” demon that exists. In order to conquer the Earth, she will do things as terrifying as refusing to do her homework or recycling a water bottle with the cap still on. I'm genuinely scared, I swear! As scary and powerful as she wants to be, she still miserably fails at everything and is the constant subject of bullying from Gabriel, and especially from Raphiel, that completes the main cast. Don't let her angelical looks fool you, she's a sadist that has teasing Satania as her favorite pastime. I have no idea what's going on in heaven to have girls like this as the most promising angels.

Gabriel DropOut has the biggest concentration of best girls I have seen in quite a good time, all of them are great and likeable, and the interactions between them are so fun to watch. It doesn’t matter who you choose as your favorite, secondary characters like Tapris, an adorable angel that surprisingly behaves like an angel included, you are picking a great and lovable character.

The character design, backgrounds, and overall art style of this anime is well executed but nothing mindblowing. I felt that compared to other Doga Kobo works it didn't have as many impressively animated scenes as usual, however, the story itself doesn't really have that many moments for them to happen, and when there is the chance, they are done and look great, so I have no objections. In the sound department is mostly what I expected from a comedy anime, with songs that fit well with the tone, but aren't really that memorable. The same can't be said for both the opening (Gabriel Drop Kick) and the ending (Hallelujah☆Essaim) two great songs sung by the voice actors of our four main characters that are two personal favorites of this season. From the opening I especially love the part where the tone of the music adapts to whichever character is singing, using a calmer tone for the angels and a more intense one for the demons. The ending theme is mostly made by nice looking still shots together with the really catchy song.

In conclusion, Gabriel DropOut is a very entertaining comedy anime that plays with the interesting idea of angels and demons and subverts your expectations of what their personalities should be like. I personally had a blast watching it, really enjoying each episode and getting so attached to the characters over the course of the series. I can't see how an anime that made me look forward for the Mondays doesn't deserve to be a favorite of mine heh, I highly recommend this anime to anyone looking for a nice comedy series to watch!

My opinion:
At first glance, Gabriel Dropout seems nothing special and definitely does not stand out but it is actually a hilarious show that had me laughing till my stomach hurt.
Quality wise Gabriel Dropout is not very good, it has a simple generic plot with some of the most stereotypical characters I have seen but that did not stop the show from being so damn entertaining.
I’ve decided to write this review in a more lively manner that better suits the show, doing so was fun.

Story: 6/10
Upon passing a school in heaven, graduating angels are sent down to Earth with the duty to learn about and guide
humans towards the correct path in order to become full-fledged angels. Gabriel is the top angel in her class, dreaming about going to Earth and helping people but as soon as she actually arrives on Earth she becomes addicted to video games and turns into a complete slob as a result. The story follows Gabriel, along with other angels and demons who have descended to Earth, as they attend high school.

The plot is not complex or linear but rather simple with episodes presenting different stories that more often than not, do not relate to other episodes, but that doesn’t stop the overall story from feeling fluid.

In this world, demons often behave like little angels while angels behave like pseudo-demons, twist which I really liked. On one hand, we have the angel Gabriel saying she doesn’t care about humans and joking about destroying humanity to cover up her “pantie sighting”, on the other hand, we have the demon, Vignette, who often cares for Gabriel, worries about other angels and even plays with children in the park. This “change of roles” goes to show that what you are doesn’t always describe or define the way you act.
Finally, the jokes. This show sells its humour very well with the main source of humour being the character chemistry, the interrelations of the characters are well-done and often result in hilarious situations that cracked me up.

To be honest, it is quite dumb to say angels are born like humans and that they live and behave like families, that’s very far from the way it actually is but, what am I talking about? This is a comedy so I’ll let it slide.

Characters: 7/10
The character cast is small yet effective, working well together and almost always perfectly delivering the jokes. The characters are more like antithesis of their archetype, with angels acting like demons and vice versa, which was quite a clever touch to the show
To be honest, the cast of Gabriel Dropout consists of some of the most generic tropes I’ve seen in anime but they work so well together and are so likable that it doesn’t matter if they are generic or not.

Gabriel is an angel who was the top of her class but soon after her descent to Earth, she became addicted to video games and turned into a slob. She is often lazy and unmotivated and has a rather bossy attitude, which I could relate to since that is the way I was in highschool, like many other teenagers. An angel got corrupted by the human way of living, that is hilarious and also true, humans are social beings that will adapt to society and because angels are portrayed to be so much like humans, it is only natural that they would react like humans.

Vignette is the complete opposite of Gabriel, she is very responsible and often looks after Gabriel, contrary to her actual role as a demon. She often cooks and worries about others, she’s an “angelic demon” to call it that. I find her character to be the best and the most intriguing.

Satanichia, she’s an egotistical demon who often thinks of weird ways to cause mischief which usually end in failure. She has no sense of taste and is often pestered by Raphiel and often falls victim to stray dogs.
If I was to give Satanichia a role, it would be that of the failed villain because her “devious” acts and plans often end up in failure due to her stupidity. I personally found her character a bit irritating but not bothersome.

Raphiel is the second ranked angel in Gabriel's class, who has since become a sadistic stalker who takes delight in teasing Satanichia. I found her character hilarious due to her constant teasing of Satanichia which I could relate to, since I used to do the same to my friends but on a smaller scale.

Aesthetics: 7/10
The art and animation are lively and colorful, the characters’ facial expressions are well done and fitting for the show. Aside from one beach episode, there wasn’t much fan service, lack of fan service which I found great. Overall, the art and animation are good but nothing spectacular, it gets the job done.

Sound: 7/10
Having a nice opening theme, a decent ending theme and a pretty good OST with the voice actors doing a good job interpreting the characters, I would say the overall sound was good.

Enjoyment: 8/10
Personally, I was laughing for the entire duration of the show, even though some jokes were overused I still found them funny, maybe because I was in the mood for a comedy show. Anyway, I highly enjoyed this show and I don’t regret one second of it.

Overall: 8/10
A very good comedy show that stands out not because it has great quality production but because it is highly entertaining.
If you are looking for a lighthearted show that will give you a good laugh, I recommend giving Gabriel Dropout a try.

Every now and then, I often go through a bucket list of things when deciding to pick up a new anime. Make no mistake, Gabriel Dropout’s list consists of some of the most generic tropes you’ll discover in anime. Does that automatically make the show unwatchable? Absolutely not. I mean, the show is like a soup with all sort of generic ingredients in it to bring out the flavor. However, it’s a show that can also be a delight for fans who wants to see some colorful entertainment.

On the surface, the series doesn’t really stand out much. It’s essentially about angels and demons who have
descended to Earth to learn about humans and their life style. Main female protagonist Gabriel “Gab” graduated at the top of her class but upon landing on Earth, she becomes a lazy hikikomori who is more interested in video games than anything else. It doesn’t take long for viewers to understand what her character is like as the first episode establishes her role as pretty straightforward. The other characters also take little time to make their way into the story as well.

As a slice of life story, there’s not much linear storyline or complex plot going on. Every episode consists of segments that makes up for its storytelling. In fact, most episodes can consist of multiple storytelling segments with little relations to another. However, what makes this show special is the character cast. It’s a small yet effective character cast that consists of Gab, Vigne, Satania, and Raphiel. Gab and Raphiel are the angels while Satania and Vigne are the demons. Contrary to what viewers may expect, these characters are more like antithesis of their archetype. Gab hardly has an angelic personality but is instead portrayed with a lazy and spoiled attitude. Satania is pretty much a harmless villain as her devious behavior is often overshadowed by her own idiocy. The idea is that these characters all came to Earth to adapt with society. Yet, they have their own motives that is satirized by comedy.

Speaking of which, the humor of this show plays a big role to fulfill enjoyment. Like most comedy/slice of life stories, it tries to sell its humor and does it quite well. The most effective way it does so is with the character chemistry. With such a small cast of characters, we can easily see how their relationships are without overthinking it. Take Satania and Raphiel for instance. Raphiel often teases Satania while the latter tries to cause mischief with hilarious results. On the other hand, Satania always tries to “compete” with Gab but somehow falls short for whatever reason that comes up. Vigne stands at the middle ground as she a more mature character yet also has her own outrageous moments. That being said, the show also introduces some lesser impactful characters that spice up the character chemistry. One of the more noticeable characters though is Tap, an angel that adds her own bits of magic into this show. In retrospect, the key success to these characters isn’t how their roles are portrayed but rather how they bring the show’s humor to life.

As a manga reader, the adaptation is faithful but doesn’t follow every chapter in a linear order. I can also say with disappointment that there were some chapters that should have been adapted. As a standard 1-cour show of 12 episodes, it’s not all too surprising. In the meantime, the humor can be a hit or miss for some fans. Its attempt to sell comedy will not meet everyone’s standards and from the first episode, it can be the deciding factor of keep or drop. Finally, I have to admit that Gabriel Dropout lacks character development. There’s not much change to any of the main characters while we don’t learn much background story about them either. While some could say that slice of life stories like this doesn’t need them, it can still be disheartening for fans who are more interested in those elements.

Adapted by Doga Kobo, the show is quite colorful. Literally, every character stands out in some way from their different hair colors and their extra accessories. (Gab’s halo, Satania’s devil-like hair piece, Raphiel’s crosses, etc) Production quality is also simple yet effective to bring out the gimmicks. There’s not much fan service (although there’s a beach episode) so expect more or less comedy as the series’ main way of servicing the fans. The character expressions also works quite well to supplement with the show’s humor.

Soundtrack isn’t all too impressive although it gets down the idea right for its OP and ED theme songs. What should feel impressive is the character voice mannerisms. They fit them so well. Gab’s voice really makes her sound like a lazy sloth while Satania’s devilish laughs gives her the impressions of a devil. By the time I finished watching Gabriel Dropout, I felt like the character voices really outdid themselves.

Should you watch Gabriel Dropout? It sounds like a tough question but really has a simple answer. If you fancy comedy without relevancy with its storytelling, then this is the show for you. It has humorous gags and characters shine with their personalities. However, if you’re more into something serious or development in storytelling, then look elsewhere. For me, this series has the virtue of being funnier than what it looks like. Now that’s a certain kind of fun.

Doga Kobo might not be the absolute biggest name in the anime industry but if there is one thing they have truly made a name for themselves for, then it is their aptitude at making moe comedies. With an repertoire including the likes of Himouto Umaru-chan, New Game and of course the legendary Yuru Yuri among others, this is truly the studio's specialty. Adding to this lineup, this season we now have Gabriel DropOut, which once again showcases just how to make this genre shine at its very brightest.

Gabriel DropOut can briefly be described as role-reversed angels and demons turned moe. The story mainly follows
two angels and two demons, who all end up moving from Heaven and Hell respectively to the human world upon starting high school. The catch is that the angels in question are a lot less admirable than you might expect, whereas the demons are not particularly evil. It is a simple twist on paper, but it ends up working to great comedic effect more often than not in this rather mean-spirited comedy show.

Given the nature of the anime, it is unsurprisingly largely character-driven. First of all there is the show's supposed main character Gabriel, named after the archangel. She is someone who used to be a picture-perfect angel with the most pristine, beautiful smile whose sole intention was to spread as much happiness as possible in the human world. That is until she one day randomly ends up playing an MMO as a healer in order to help the other players (how the game ended up on her laptop in the first place is never explained but whatever), only to find that people were dying when she ran out of mana, causing her to purchase an exclusive premium healing staff for real money in desperation. And this turns to be the starting point of Gabriel quickly going down a slippery slope until she eventually becomes a self-centered game addict and a hikikomori. In other words, basically a lost cause and in this case a fallen angel. She is rather reminiscent of Doma Umaru from Himouto Umaru-chan in this sense, but Gabriel is even more hopeless since unlike Umaru she 1) does not put in any effort in school or try to keep up appearances either, and 2) fully embraces the NEET lifestyle and does not even try to improve herself whatsoever, much to the dismay of her friends.

Speaking of which, her best friend is Vigne (who I think is supposed to represent the demon Vine but I am not sure), a very diligent and kind-hearted demon who only wants to help people. Her devotion manages to get Gabriel to at least get out of her room and attend school sometimes, but unfortunately that is not the way demons are supposed to behave, and thus she sometimes finds herself in just as much trouble as Gabriel regarding lack of financial support from back home. The poor girl just cannot find it in herself to be evil as much as it is expected from someone in her position.

Someone who most definitely wants to be as evil as possible though is the so-called "future queen of hell" Satanichia—more commonly known as Satania—which is quite obviously a feminized version of Satan. She is perhaps the real star of this show as most of its funniest gags revolve around her... or rather her misfortune. Put simply, Satania is an idiot, and her attempts at being evil always end in complete failure. Also, the other girls are generally pretty mean to her in return for all the nuisances she creates. This is undoubtedly the most mean-spirited part of the show as Satania is most often treated as the butt of everyone else's jokes, but it works out surprisingly well because of the light-hearted nature of it all (and let us be honest here, quite a lot of the abuse she is given is well deserved).

Although pretty much everyone has a piece of Satania every now and then, the main culprit behind Satania's torment however is the fourth and final of our main characters: Raphiel (named after the archangel Raphael). She is a former classmate of Gabriel's from their days up in Heaven, and whilst she may look like a model honor student at a glance, she is actually both a sadist and a huge troll whose favorite pastime is manipulating and toying with Satania in various ways. As she already proved in Prison School, HanaKana is surprisingly adept at voice acting sadistic girls, and the case with Raphiel's character is no different.

There is not much in the way of actual plot progression throughout the show. There are a couple backstory segments showcasing how Gabriel and Vigne first met, and in some of the latter episodes we also get to see some more glimpses of what Heaven and Hell look like when the girls temporarily go back home on vacation, which also lets us meet their families. Beyond that though, the show mostly consists of standalone skits (usually like four segments per episode or so), however that is totally fine because this is purely a comedy show at heart, and quite a lot of the time it is actually legitimately hilarious. I cannot actually label it as the comedy of the season for the simple reason that KonoSuba 2 happened to be airing simultaneously, but during any normal circumstances it certainly would be. Granted, humour is very subjective so I cannot promise anything, but at the very least I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed every single episode of the series.

Gabriel DropOut is not a complicated series, but it executes its own premise excellently and delivers a consistently enjoyable and momentarily hilarious experience. Combined with Doga Kobo's typical clean and shiny moe art style (and a fantastic ED I might add), it all amounts to one of the best moe comedies I have seen in quite some time.

PS: For whatever reason, Crunchyroll's subtitles for this anime are absolutely cringeworthy. In what universe does "Itadakimasu~" translate to "Through the Dark Lord Amen" if I may ask? Keep your 4chan memes away from my subs please, because if you think you are being funny I am sorry to disappoint you. Hopefully some fansub group will pick this show up and retranslate it from scratch sometime in the near future so that it might actually be bearable to read.